Sport shirt folding and packaging device



Aug. 28, 1956 G S A SPORT SHIRT FOLDING AND PACKAGING DEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1951 :s Shee ts-Sheet 5 INVENTOR George 570L997? ATTORNEY Aug. 28', 1956 G. SLAGER 2,760,694

SPORT SHIRT FOLDING AND PACKAGING DEVICE Filed Sept. 27,- 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 III.

INVENTOR G90 Si n ATTORNEYS Aug. 28, 1956 ca. SLAGER SPORT SHIRT 'FOLDING AND PACKAGING DEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 mvzzvron owge 8iagzw W I M MW ATTORNEYS SPORT SHIRT FOLDING AND PACKAGING DEVICE George Slager, Tifton, Ga.

Application September 27, 1951, Serial No. 248,594

8 Claims. (Cl. 223-37) Generically this invention relates to shirt folding devices for laundries, but more especially it is directed to a method and apparatus of this character adapted for use in effecting the folding and packaging of shirts of the sport type.

Generally in packaging shirts of the dress and negligee type following their laundering, each shirt is folded longitudinally slightly spaced from the projecting or free ends of the collar, and at approximately the waist line area, the sleeves then being folded on the back of the shirt, the shirt is then folded transversely with the lower or tail portion in overlying relation with respect to the inwardly folded sleeve portions and bound by one or more encircling paper bands with the aligned collar end portions extending transverse of the package front which latter forms the upper surface of the package. However, a sport shirt has long wing collar portions usually worn spread apart forming a V or open neck effect, and when folded and packaged as above described, the projecting or aligned free ends of the collar extend beyond the longitudinal edge of the package and become crumpled and soiled during handling thereby rendering the shirt unwearable. Therefore, one of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a method and device for effecting the folding of a shirt of the sport type in a manner such that the lines of fold will be transverse of the shirt and the aligned free ends of the collar will be supported by and extend longitudinally of the package but not beyond its ends, and over which latter the securing paper bands may extend for further preventing damage thereto during handling of the package.

vision of a shirt supporting table element and arm means carried by said table for releasably holding the shirt in fixed position upon completion of predetermined steps in the folding operation, and additional leaf means carried by said table operable into engagement with said folding portions and constituting a form for effecting the remaining steps in the'folding operation and a support for the completed shirt package until its removal from the device.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a table element adapted to support a sport shirt or the like during the folding and packaging thereof incident to its being laundered, and including spring controlled arm means adapted by pressure to hold said shirt in a fixed and predeterminedly folded position during additional folding steps, and foot pedal means for releasing said pressure for efiecting elevation of said arms to inoperative position. 7

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved sport shirt folding device.

' nited States Patent Another important object of this invention is the proice Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the shirt supporting table and showing the mounting for the shirt holding arms.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 and a portion of the raised leaf member.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the adjustable table supporting pedestal shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the table top, and modified form of pneumatic pressure control arm lifting mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, with diaphragm and parts in elevation, of the table supported unit of the pneumatic pressure controldevice shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view with parts in elevation of the pneumatic control base means and foot pedal mechanism of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a sport shirt partially folded and with the leaf member in position thereon.

Fig. 9 is a similar View to Fig. 8, showing additional folds.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a sport shirt completely folded and in package form.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the shirt stiffening board and folding guide.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a prevalent folded shirt package.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a sport shirt folding and packaging device A comprising, in the present instance, a pedestal 1 substantially square in cross section suitably mounted on a supporting base 2. A table supporting member 3 is telescopically engaged over the upper end of said pedestal 1, as shown in Fig. 4, with one side removed for purposes of clarity. Said member 3 is formed in opposite sides 4 with vertically spaced slots 5 through which extend bolts or the like 6 mounted in the upper end of the pedestal 1, said member 3 being secured in vertically adjusted position by nuts 7. A lateral flange 8 is integrally or otherwise formed on the upper end of member 3, which forms a seat for a sport shirt supporting table member 9, and to which said table is suitably and detachably secured.

The rear edge 10 of the table 9 substantially central of its length is formed with a slot 11, and at the base of said slot on opposite sides thereof is mounted on said table the mounting or hearing members 12 in which is journaled a shaft member 13, said bearing member 12 being secured to the table 9 by bolts 14. A pair of shirt engaging curved arm or finger member 15, each of which is formed with a sleeve-like head 16 adjustably mounted on each end of said shaft 13, and secured by a set screw 17, the free ends of said arms being formed with suitably mounted shirt engaging knobs 18 of rubber, plastic or the like. Mounted on shaft 13 intermediate the spaced bearing members 12 and heads 16 of the arms 15, are the finger or arm hold-down springs 19, each of which has one end anchored under a lug 20 formed on a respective bearing member 12 and the other anchored under an inwardly projecting lug 21 welded or otherwise formed on the respective arm heads 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Also mounted on shaft 13 in alignment with slot 11 is a collar 22 formed with a stub arm 23 and adjustably secured to said shaft 13 by a set screw 24. The free end of arm 23 is mounted in a bifurcated head 25 on pin 26 extending therethrough, said head being angularly formed on the upper end of connecting rod 27, by welding or otherwise, the other end of said rod being secured in ears 28 of pedal arm 29, the rear end of which is anchored on pin 30 in bracket 31 suitably secured to the rear side of the pedestal 1. Mounted on the free end of arm 29 is a foot pedal 32. Downward pressure on said pedal 32 pulls down rod 27 and stub arm 23, rotating shaft 13 and raising arms 15 against the action of the springs 19, for a purpose directly more fully appearing. Y

Formed in the upper surface of the table 9 is a pair of spaced parallel rearwardly extending recesses 33 adapted to contain a plurality of gummed end paper or the like shirt package bands 33 for securing and maintaining in package form the respective sport shirts B upon completion of the folding operation. Mounted on said table 9 spaced from the forward or inner ends of said bearing members 12 is a stop or gauge block 34 secured by screws or the like 35, and which acts as a gauge for the first step in the folding operation, which is placing the shirt 13 front down on the table and bringing the collar into engagement with said block 34.

Suitably mounted on the table A at the right hand edge of said table is a triangular block 36, the inclined surface 37 of which acts to normally support in inclined position a fold-retaining and fold-forming leaf member 38 as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. In the present instance, the said leaf 33 is formed with suitably attached, rodlike projections 39 adapted to have hinge connection with the hinge portions 46 secured to the table A by screws 41. Said leaf 38 is, in the present instance, formed with a fingergrip end recess 42 to effect movement of the leaf into lowered engagement with a shirt being folded (Fig. 8) and to raised inclined position (Fig. 1), a-nd out of the way when placing a shirt on the table incident to the folding operation, as will hereinafter be more fully explained.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate an alternate or pneumatic apparatus for operating the arms 15 to elevated or raised position, in lieu of the pedal 32 and linkage 27-24 hereinbefore described, if desired.

The fluid pressure and control apparatus C for eifecting thelifting of arms 15, comprises, in the present instance, a substantially rectangular base structure 43 formed with hollow compartments 44 and 45 separated by an integral partition 46 including the opposite bosses 47 and 48 and the exterior boss 49, formed with bore 50 extending downwardly through said partition and outwardly through the boss nipple 51. Said base 43 is internally threaded to receive the threaded end members 52 and 53 formed with the external integral nut projections 54. Said end members 52, S3 and partition 46 are formed with aligned bores 55. A valve rod 56 is mounted in said bores and reciprocatingly extends through and 52, partition 46 and into compartment 45, and terminates in a suitably mounted circular stop member '7 having a cushioning facing 58 adapted to seat against the boss 48 in pedal operating direction to align the vertical bore or opening 59 with bore 56 for passage of a suitable fluid which may be air from a compressed air source as hereinafter explained. A stop member 60 in compartment 44, similar to 57, except that the cushion facing 58 is reversed, is suitably mounted on valve rod 56,, said cushion face is adapted to seat against boss 47 in compartment 44 under the action of spring 61 mounted on valve rod 56. One end of spring 61 seats against member 60 and the other in socket 62 formed in the end member 52. Mounted on opposite sides of the base member 43 with their inner ends welded or otherwise secured and formed with the enlarged free ends 63 are the parallel bracket arms 63. Mounted intermediate said free ends 63' on a suitably secured shaft 64 is a bell-crank member 65 formed with upstanding bifurcated portions 66, which are connected at their lower ends to the angu'larly extending integral or otherwise formed arm structure 67, on the free end of which is welded or otherwise secured apedal member 68 projecting downwardly at an angle with respect to said arm. The free end of valve rod 56 is provided with a small transversely extending pin 69, the oppositely projecting ends of which are slidably mounted in the bifurcated portions 66, and by means of which, when pressure is applied to the foot pedal 68, longitudinal movement of rod 56 against the action of spring 61 is eifected. The bore 55 in end 53 is closed by ascrew plug 53.

An air inlet pipe 70 is connected to a source of compressed air (not shown) and the other end is connected by threaded connection 71 to the boss 49 and communicating with bore 55), which is in communication with the connection member 72, similar to 71, which secures one end of pipe 73, the other end of which is secured in communication with another similar connection member 74.

Normally, and in the position shown in Fig. 7, the upper surface of valve rod 56 acts as a valve in closed position to cut off the fiow of air through bore 50. Said valve rod 56 is formed with an underlying hollowed out conduit portion 75 which communicates with the bore 50 when the said rod is in valve closing position (Fig. 7) and with the air exhaust bore7'6. When the pedal 63 is depressed, rod 56 is longitudinally actuated against pressure exerted by spring 61, compressing the latter and bringing opening 59 into registration with bore 50, permit-ting compressed air to flow therethrough and through pipe 73 to the diaphragm unit C, and when the pressure is removed from pedal 68, the rod 56 is returned by the action of spring 61 to valve closing position and the air trapped in pipe 73 and diaphragm unit C is exhausted to the atmosphere through exhaust outlet '76.

The diaphragm unit C comprises a base structure 77 including a fiat rectangular bottom portion 78 secured to table 9 by bolts 78 and is formed at opposite edges with walls 79, and formed on or secured to their outer surfaces flush with their upper edges are the block like projections 80. Welded or otherwise secured to said projections 80 are a pair of vertical standards 81. Mounted intermediate the standards '81 is a bottom cuplike member 82 formed with a depending boss 83 and a complemental inverted member 84 formed with an upstanding bored portion 85. Said members when assembled form a diaphragm or piston chamber 86 and are connected together by screw bolts 87 with an interposed gasket .88. Mounted in said chamber is a diaphragm or piston structure 89 supported on a spring 90 mounted on piston rod 91 and seating in the countersunk recess 92 in the boss 83. Mounted intermediate the upper ends of walls 79 is a bearing member '93 formed on or secured to the rear end of lever arm'94 formed with an L-shaped end portion adapted to engage under one of the arms 15, for effecting the raising of .said arms as will directly more fully appear. 'Said bearing member 93 is .movably mounted on shaft 96 in blocks .80. A rear end mem- 'ber '81 is welded or otherwise secured to bearing member 93, constituting in efiect a continuation of arm 94, and projects under piston rod 91.

From the, above it will be apparent that when it is desired to raise the .arm 15, the pedal 68 is depressed, which actuates rod 56 against the action .Of spring 61 bringing opening 59 into registration with bore 50 and permitting compressed air to flow through pipe 70, bore 50, pipe 73, connection 74, bored inlet member 85, forcing piston 89 downwardly .against the action of spring 96, causing piston rod 91 to depress end member 81' and thereby elevating arm 94 and causing portion 95 to raise the arms 15, to permit the manipulation of the shirt B being folded, as hereinafter described.

A sport shirt package stiifening board and folding guide D of cardboard, plastic or the like, is formed on one edge with a pair of spaced somewhat V-shaped open end oppositely curved slots 97 forming an intermediate rigid tongue portion 98 and as the board is placed on the shirt following the first step, the tongue 98 is inserted under the shirt collar (Fig. 8), the gauge block 34 mounted on table 9'be'iug engaged by the shirt collar and now functioning to prevent displacement of and {to maintain the shirt in proper position, the shirt being held beneath the leaf 38 which has been lowered on its hinges 39 into shirt-retaining position, the edges of the shirt collar projecting into the slots 97 (Figs. 8 and 9), so that said collar is anchored and held in its predetermined position during folding, packaging and handling, without damage thereto. When the board D is so positioned, it also functions in conjunction with its longitudinal straight edge 99, as a form for defining the proper transverse fold of the shirt and to further define the width of the package, and the straight ends 100 function as guides in forming the longitudinal folds of the shirt and defining the length of the package as will directly more fully appear.

Operation and method of folding Initially the first step in the folding operation is to raise the leaf 38 to the position shown 11 Fig. 1; second, press down the foot pedal raising the arms 15; third, place the sport shirt B to be folded front down on the flat table 9, effecting touching engagement of the collar with the gauge block 34 which is directly in front of the operator; then fourth, place the stiffening board D on and transversely of said shirt with the tongue 98 inserted up under the collar bringing it into fixed engagement with block 34, which now acts as a stop to predeterminedly position said shirt for the folding operation; then fifth (Fig. 8), fold the sleeves 101 as at 102 up over the ends 100 of the shirt-board D; then sixth, remove the foot from the foot pedal 32 or 68 releasing the arms 15 which under the action of springs 19 eifect the engagement of the knobs 18 with the folded sleeve portions on the board D to so hold them and the shirt in fixed position, while the side edges 103 of the shirt are folded preferably simultaneously, as at 104 (Fig. 8) over the lower end portions 100 lengthwise or longitudinally, gauged by said ends of the board for width, upon the shirt, said fold lines 104 being continuations of fold lines 102; then seventh, lower the leaf 38 from its raised position of Fig. 1 into engagement with the shirt positioned on the board, thus securing the shirt on the board and holding said folded side edges 103 of the shirt in position; then eighth, the tail portion 105 of the shirt is folded as at 106 (Fig. 9) up over the edge 107 of the leaf 38 nearest the operator into overlying engagement with the leaf, insuring a straight transverse fold line 106; then ninth, release the holding pressure on the folded sleeve portions by depressing the foot pedal to raise the arms 15; then tenth, fold the board D and attached collar portion of the shirt resting on the table, upwardly and .rearwardly back over the edgs 108 of said leaf effecting a straight fold line 109 (Fig. and into overlying position on the leaf supported folded tail portion (Fig. 9), and during this folding operation any excess portion 110 of said tail 105 will automatically be folded as at 111 into overlapping relation with respect to the folded tail portion 105 (Fig. 9) and with said collar and adjacent front portion of the shirt facing upwardly as shown in Fig. 10; then eleventh, bring up the gummed ends of the topmost bands 33, positioned in the recesses 33, around the folded shirt overlying the ends of the shirt collar and into overlapping adhering relation completing the packaging operation. The package E thus completed (Fig. 10) may then he slipped from the leaf and said leaf moved to elevated position (Fig. 1), the machine then being in readiness for the next operation. However, in view of expediting rapid operation, upon completion of the application of the bands 33, the leaf may be raised with the package E (Fig. 10) remaining thereon, and following the next sixth step incident to the engagement of the arms with the folded sleeves 101, the lowering of the leaf and the removal of the package therefrom may be effected in one operation.

The advantages of the radical difierence between the instant manner of folding a shirt of the sport type and the package E formed as a result thereof, when compared with the prevalent manner of folding a shirt and the resulting package F, as shown in Fig. 12, is at once apparent.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided an apparatus and method for accomplishing the desired result, including shirt holding pressure means, and selective mechanical and pneumatic means operable to shift the said holding means into pressurereleasing position away from the shirt during different folding steps so as to permit freedom of both hands in connection with the manipulation of the shirt and during progressive folding operations, which overcome the heretofore disadvantages in folding shirts of the sport type, and effects the expeditious and rapid'folding and packaging of such shirts as they are laundered, so that their collars are preserved from damage during the folding operation, and package handling thereafter, such apparatus being simple in construction and operation, manufacturable at a reasonable cost and efficient for the purposes intended.

While the instant device is primarily intended for use by laundries, it is to be understood that it equally is adapted for use by manufacturers of sport-type shirts for packaging for shipment to the trade.

Although in practice it has been found that the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of the invention will necessarily vary, it is well to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

I. An apparatus for folding and packaging shirts of the sport-type, comprising a shirt supporting table, a hinged fold retaining and fold form means carried by said table, a shirt and fold retaining finger means mounted on said table for relative movement with respect thereto, means in connection with said finger means for normally effecting pressure contact of said finger means with said shirt, and air pressure and control means for effecting removal of said finger means from pressure engagement with said shirt, said means including a base member, and diaphragm means mounted on said table and having operative connection with said finger means, said base member having air conduit connection with a source of compressed air and through itself with said diaphragm means and an air discharge port, a spring controlled valve rod means mounted in said base member and a treadle member mounted on said base member and connected to said valve rod.

2. Apparatus for facilitating folding and packaging shirts after laundering, which comprises a shirt supporting table, spaced bearing elements mounted on the table, a shaft turnably mounted in the bearing elements, holddown arms carried by the shaft and extending forwardly thereof for engaging a shirt being folded and packaged on the table, pressure means acting on the hold-down arms also mounted on the shaft and normally continuously urging the hold-down arms under pressure of the said means against a shirt intermediate the table and the holddown arms, and mechanism connected to the shaft and operable thereon at selected intervals in opposition to the said pressure means for overcoming and counteracting the hold-down pressure exerted on the said hold-down arms by the pressure means on the shaft for turning the shaft and hold-down arms directionally away from the table and shirt thereon for releasing the shirt from the hold-down arms and table.

3. Apparatus for folding and packaging newly laundered shirts, which comprises a shirt-supporting table having a substantially planar top surface, bearing means mounted on the top surface of the table, a shaft turnably mounted in the bearing means, pressure-actuated hold-down bracket arms mounted on the shaft and extending forwardly thereof for engaging body portions of a shirt being folded and holding the shirt against the top surface of the table during folding of the shirt, the hold-down arms being arcuately curved upwardly and away from the top surface of the table for providing a shirt-receiving space between the arms and the table, means enabling relative spacial adjustment between the said arms longitudinally along the shaft for accommodating the arms to different body widths of shirts being folded, means for locking the said arms to the shaft in selected adjustments of the arms, pressure means for the arms mounted on the shaft and acting on the said arms for continuously pressing the latter against the shirt being folded, and mechanism operably connected to the shaft in opposition to the pressure means for the said arms for turning the shaft counterwise against the action of the pressure means for lifting the said arms away from the shirt for disengaging and releasing the arms from the shirt.

4. Apparatus for folding and packaing shirts, which comprises a shirt-supporting table, bearing means mounted on the table, a shaft turnably mounted in the bearing means, spaced shirt-engaging hold-down arms having a ree end and a sleeve-like head end positioned on the shaft and being spacially adjustable along the shaft, means for releasably locking the head end of each arm to the shaft in a selected position of adjustment, the said holddown arms extending forwardly with respect to the shaft and to the table and being arcuately curved outwardly and away from the table in a plane substantially normal to the table and forming a substantial clearance with the table for providing an unobstructed shirt-receiving space between the arms and the table for enabling free insertion and removal of the shirt relative to the hold-down arms and table, compressed coil springs enclosing the shaft intermediate the bearing means and sleeve-like head end of each hold-down arm, the said springs being anchored at one end to the bearing means and being anchored at an opposite end to the said head end of each hold-down arm for continuously urging the hold-down arms downwardly against the shirt being folded, and pressure-actuated mechanism carried by the table and operably connected to the shaft for turning the shaft at selected intervals in opposition to the pressure of the springs for lifting the hold-down arms out of engagement with the shirt for releasing the shirt at selected intervals.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a shirt-protecting terminal element mounted on and enclosing the free end of each bracket arm for inhibiting displacement and tearing of the shirt While held down by the bracket arms.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bearing means include lateral lugs extending outwardly from the bearing means, the sleeve-like head end of each bracket arm having an inwardly projecting lug, disposed oppositely to and directed towards an adjacent lateral lug, the coil springs having one end engaging each outwardly extending lug on the bearing means and anchored thereto and an opposite end anchored beneath the inwardly projecting lug on the head end of each bracket arm for continuously urging the bracket arms downwardly against the shirt-being folded.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a gauge block mounted on the table forwardly of the bearing means and intermediate the bracket arms, the said gauge block being engaged by collar portions of the shirt being folded on the table and held by the bracket arms, and defining a stop member for the shirt during placement thereof on the table for folding.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in combination with a rigid stiffening andfolding foundation board for the shirt, the said foundation board having a Width substantially equal to that of body portions of the shirt, held by the bracket arms and also having an edge provided with a pair of spaced approximately V-shaped, open-end and oppositely curved slots defining an intermediate rigid tongue portion for registering with the gauge block and insertable beneath shirt collar portions engaging the gauge block with edges of the shirt collar portions projecting into the said slots for anchoring the shirt against displacement relative to the gauge block and bracket arms'during folding manipulations of the shirt, and said slots further adapted to preserve the collar portions against damage during the folding operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,285,063 Steele June 2, 1942 2,362,976 Cooper Nov. 21, 1944 2,369,607 Rieck Feb. 13, 1945 2,508,108 Gayring et al. May 16, 1950 2,610,771 Calder Sept. 16, 1952 2,610,772 Steele Sept. 16, 1952 2,616,595 Arruda Nov. 4, 1952 2,707,582 Suhajda May 3, 1955 

